Bloody Horse Flies…

Wednesday I got bitten by a horse fly (Tabanidae). Twice, on the right hand. I hurried into the house, washed and cleaned the wound and could already feel that tingling sensation.

Since I’m one of those, who are very intolerant to insect bites and stings, I always carry a personal first aid kit in my bag. It contains a bug bite suction tool, disinfection wipes, itch relief gel and prescription antihistamines. I took a pill and hoped for the best. As the evening went along, I could see (and feel) my hand swell. Thursday I woke up at 5am, with a hurting, completely swollen and itching hand. Took another pill and went to bed again with the hand elevated. The whole day was terrible, the swelling would not go down and Friday I had to see my GP. The swelling had gotten up to the elbow, the hand looked like an inflated latex glove and it hurted extensively in my arm pit. The GP gave me extra strong antihistamines and prednisolone. One pill a day, for three days. The swelling has already gone a bit down, I’ve got knuckles again! As you can see on the photo below, the bites are pretty deep and the skin has been stretched so much it cracked a bit.

I’ve searched the internet for traps, repellents and so on. No results. You can buy an expensive trap for 200€, but I couldn’t find any evidence that it works. I read somewhere that a clear plastic bag filled with water and hung from a tree or a stand would be effective. So that’s my next move. If it works, I’ll let you know.